Massage-vibrator.



W. BROAD.

MASSAGE VIBRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1916.

1,197,338. PatentedSept. 1916.

INVENTOR WITNESSES (Adam 0% i 6&1 (14d.

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WILLIAM BROAD, 0F BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB 0F THBBE-FO'URTHS TO HEY E. MQLAIN, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 10, 1916. Serial No. 71,228.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM BRoAn, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or disdiminishtheir weight and cost of manufacture.

While my invention may be employed in the various forms and types ofmassage vibrators that are used for difierent purposes, it finds particular adaptability to such as are now frequently used by barbers in giving face massages, and by physicians and others for stimulating local blood circulation.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, 1 have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as applied to vibrators for the purpose particularly mentioned.

Figure l is a side elevation of a massage vibrator; Fig. 2 a longitudinal vertical central sectional view thereof; and Fig. 3 a sectional view taken on the line l[HIH, Fig. 2. a

In the practice of my invention, I provide an electro-magnet adapted to be intermittently energized, preferably by an alternating current, although it may' be energized by a direct current caused to rapidly pulsate as by means of a circuit interrupter.

A spring is so positioned that a free end thereof lies in the magnetic field of the magnet and is adapted to be vibrated by its intermittent energization. To the spring there is operatively attached, directly or otherwise, any desired form of applicator or massage instrument. Means are also rovided for varying the amplitude of vi ration of the spring.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the several parts of the apparatus are mounted within, or connected to, a casing which may be of any suitable form but which is referably cylindrical and conf two parts, a body portion 1 and a removable cover 2. The casing which may be made of aluminum, fiber board, or any other suitable material, is provided. with a side opening to receive electrical conductors 3, and at whlch opening a handle 4 is at the handle, as indicated in Fig. 2. The cas-- ing is further provided with a lug 5 for the attachment of the electro-magnet, and with a plurality of holes 6 for the circulation of air to cool the apparatus when in operation.

The electro-magnet 7 which ll provide, is of the well known double coil ,type provided with a laminated two-part core 8. It is connected to the casing lug 5 by means of screws or bolts 9, the poles of the magnet being arranged adjacent to the cover 2. The spring, which, by the intermittent energization of the magnet, is caused to vibrate, is preferably a leaf spring 10, and is secured at one end to the cover 2 in the manner indicated in Fig. 2 To increase the efiective pull of the magnet upon the spring, the spring is provided with a laminated armature 11 adjacent to the ends of the core 8. Any desired form of applicator may be operatively connected to the spring 10, that shown herein. consisting of a rubber disk 12 the face of which is provided with teeth or tines of the same material. For reasons presently to be explained the applicator is preferably directly and rigidly attached to the spring in such position that its effective stroke will be impelled by the resiliency of having been drawn toward the magnet. As shown herein, the stem of the applicator extends through the cover 2, and its operating face is transverse to the direction of vibra tion of the spring and points away from the spring. Y

That the amplitude of vibration of the spring may be varied, means are provided to adjust the efiective length thereof. Such meanspreferably consist of a set screw 13,

extending loosely through the cover 2 and spring 10, and provided with a nut 14: held by means of a stifi' coil spring'l5, against turning with the screw, the opposite ends'of such spring engaging the nut and the spring 10. By turning the screw in a right hand direction the nut 14 will move toward the spring 10 and'thereby reduce the efi'eetive reca ted Sept. 5;, rare.

.tached, such conductors extending through the spring on its return movement after at Y length of the vibrating portion of the spring as well as widen the gap between the spring and the electro-magnet. An opposite turning of the screw will of course, have the opposite effect.

v The operation of the massage vibrator, as far as concerns its electrical and mechanical features, will be readily understood from the foregoing explanation of its construction. It is only necessary in operating the apparatus to "cause a pulsating or alternating current to flow through the magnet 7 to effect the vibration of the spring 10 to which the applicator is secured However, the movement of the applicator and the possible variations thereof effected by the adjustment of the amplitude of vibration of the spring 10, are substantial improvements over the operation of the usual form'of massage-vibrators now manufactured. As. usually constructed such.- vibrators include a motor, to the rotor of which the applicator is eccentrically attached-in such manner as to cause it to have an oscillatory or arcuate movement. As

, distinguished from such movement the applicator in my preferred form of instrument vibrates in substantially a straight her action. Furthermore,

line, affording a pricking rather than a rubin' the usual forms of massage vibrators the range of movement of the applicator is fixed for each instrument, Whereas, in the vibrator which I provide, the length of stroke of the applicator may be made indefinitely and almost imperceptibly small. Also, the strength and length of the spring 10 may be such that it will be drawn to' the magnet only by every alternate period of its energization, thus causing the applicator to vibrate at but half the number of vibrations per sec- 0nd as the period of the exciting current.

It will be observed of my massage vibrator that it has no mechanically moving parts requiring lubrication, and which, in motor operated vibrators, rapidly Wear out. Furthermore, the vibrating spring and its adjusting screw being attached to the easing cover, and the magnet to the casing,

the parts may be easily assembled. Should it be necessary to remove the cover for repairs or" otherwise, the parts will, because they are mounted as described, be readily accessible. I

According to-the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle and operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the bestembodiment thereof. However, I desire tohave it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative, and

means.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a massage vibrator, the combination of a casing comprising a body portion and a cover, an electro-magnet immovably' secured to and Within the body portion of that the invention may be practised by other means for engagingand holding said spring yieldingly toward said cover, said screwbeing longitudinally immovable by the vibration of said spring, and an applicator secured to said spring and extending through said cover. 2. In a massage vibrator, the combination of a casing comprising a body portidn and a cover, an electro-magnet immovably secured to and within the body portion of the casing and adapted to be intermittently energized, a leaf spring secured at one end to said cover and having its free end extending into the field of and adapted tobevibrated by said magnet, an applicator secured to said spring and extending through said cover, an adjustable set screw extend ing through said cover and spring, a springengaging abutment at the inner end of-said screw, and a spring acting between said abutment and said leaf spring to hold said leaf spring yieldingly toward said cover;

3. In a massage vibrator, the combination of a casing comprising a body portion and a cover, an electro-magnet immovably secasing energized, a leaf spring secured at one end to said cover and having its free end extending into the field of and adaptedto be vibrated by said magnet, an applicator secured to said spring and extending through said cover, an adjustable set screw extend ing through said cover and spring at a point between said magnet and the point of attachment of the spring to the cover, a spring-engaging abutment at the inner end of said screw, and a spring between said abutment and said leaf spring and exerting pressure upon said leaf spring to hold it yieldingly toward said cover.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM BROAD. Witnesses j PAUL N. Cnrronnow, FRANCIS J. TOMASSON. 

